Why was this edifice erected? Its architectural plan is not that of a Mosque and the tradition relating the rock with Muhammad's ascent to heaven was realized only in the ninth century CE. It is therefore plausible that the caliph `Abd al-Malik constructed the building in order to provide his people with a shrine, a place of pilgrimage at a time that his rival, `Abdallah ibn al-Zubayr, prevented pilgrimage to Mecca. (for the reason given by Al-Muqadassi click here)